Books on the Nightstand discussion

I wonder if anyone will ever market a book by selling a hard copy and an e-reader version at one time for a reasonable rice? Or even if it has ever been done yet?

I know I would be more apt to impulse buy a book, especially on-line, if I knew I could start reading it immediately but that I could also have the hard copy to hold in my hands and put on my shelf.

On my iPhone, I read lots of free classics, but I am hesitant to spend 9.99 on an digital book which I can't lend to my daughter or sell at a used book store later if I don't want to save it.

And if it's new book by a favorite author, I know I want the book. BUT. But, if I see it online for 28.50 and know I can get it in town for 18.00, then I'll probably just wait. BUT. But if could get both for 28.50, I'd probably just go ahead and get both now.

I don't think I'd ever buy both separately for full price. Heck, I'd like a downloadable audio copy also. Why not? If I bought a hard copy locally, maybe I could go online and download an e book or audio book with a coupon. Anyway, just food for thought.

Yes, many publishers and brick and mortar bookstores especially *want* to do this, but unfortunately the technology is just not quite there yet. I expect we will see this within a year, as there does appear to be interest. Of course, what a "reasonable price" means remains to be seen.

Some record labels have been doing this for a few years, especially with vinyl albums -- they come with a download code for the digital album included in the price. However, the albums are all shrinkwrapped, so it's much easier to manage with a coupon code. With a book, there's nothing to stop someone from just opening the book and copying the code.

But don't worry -- we'll get there!

Currently, if the print publisher allows it, a Kindle can have a computer voice read the text of a book.

Audiobook publishers are also moving in the direction of including e-books (the text of the book) + bonus features with the audio. The advent of the iPad has helped a lot in this area.

But there is no incentive for an audiobook publisher to produce free audiobooks.

Yes, the problem with the audiobook is that there are absolutely no cost savings -- it's one thing to digitize and format an existing text (though there are costs involved there, too), but another thing altogether to edit the script, hire talent and producers, and spend a few days in the recording studio to produce the audio.

I'd much rather listen to an audio with one of the many talented readers than listen to a "computer voice" on a kindle. The really good readers give a sense of the characters that a computer could never do. At least until we learn how to program emotions into a computer.

I'm glad it's under some consideration. I'm sure the market will determine what is "reasonable" and I can see an e-book being a great marketing device and also being very fluid in pricing structure.

Seems like it would be easy for Amazon to include a Kindle version immediately along with a hard copy to be shipped the next day. Or for a local Border's to have a code on a receipt that will allow a one time download (maybe from the store itself if it had a download center). It would be more challenging for an indy, but not much more. Of course, there is the problem of several different formats now.

I don't have any idea about how the profits break down between publisher, author, and book seller. And I may be mistaken in my thought that very few people would buy both a hard copy and a e-book for a separate full price. But I bet more people would pay more of a premium for both together.

It could be a deal for just the new books/best sellers- when you buy the book, a bookmark is placed in it by the seller with the code for downloading the e-book. Plus, it will get more people using bookmarks! :)